As always, global trends can obscure what is happening in discrete communications markets. That seems to be the case for mobile communications as well. Of the 1.6 billion new mobile internet users between now and 2025, the overwhelming numbers will come from China and India. Account additions in those two countries will represent about 39 percent of all net additions to 2025.

What that means is that subscriber additions cannot drive revenue growth in most markets globally. In many countries, additional mobile data revenue will be key. In developed markets, growth will have to shift beyond mobile data, one might argue.

Also, because fixed broadband is negligible in some of those markets, the “next internet generation will not just be mobile first, but mobile only,” says GSMA.

Gary Kim is a communications industry analyst of 30 years, ranked second globally among power influencers in mobile and among the top 10 telecom thought leaders.
He currently works as a telecom/Internet conference content developer and speaker.
He recently founded the Spectrum Futures conference for the Pacific Telecommunications Council, and acts as a conference advisor for PTC.
He is a member of Mensa, the international organization for people with IQs in the top 2 percent.